Debbie first appeared in the 1990 series of
Byker Grove and left at the end of the 1993 series, although the
character did make several infreqent appearances in the later
series.

Debbie was the middle sister of the Dobson
family, and the only Dobson sister to remain in Newcastle after
the character had left the series. Debbie was first seen in the
1990 series, introduced as one of Nicola's younger sisters,
Debbie, though starting off as a minor role became one of the
most memorable characters in Byker Grove.

Debbie had something of a vivid imagination
which was shown in the 1990 series after she watched some horror
films that the lads had a acquired and were playing at the Grove.
These haunting films would remain in her mind for some time.
Debbie also became involved with PJ's pirate radio project
"Radio Rocket".

Debbie decided, under pressure from Carl that
she should start smoking, to make her more sophisiticated,
however, she disliked the taste of her first cigarette and was
discovered by gran, Mary O'Malley, who forced Debbie to eat the
cigarette otherwise she would tell her dad. Debbie was ill for
some time after that.

In the 1991 series Debbie developed a crush on
PJ which progressed through to the next series. In 1991 Debbie's
terror at the horror films the previous year became a reality. On
one quiet night she spotted the profile of a fimilar character in
the half-light of the corridor. She became convinced that the
person she had seen was the Ghost of Gill, who had died suddenly
in a car accident the previous year. PJ, Duncan, Jemma and Speedy
decided to help Debbie, by laying traps within the Grove to
reveal the indentity of the imposter.

They decided to cunningly place a tape
recorder, leave it recording through the night and listen to it
the next day. Debbie, PJ, Speedy, Duncan and Jemma played the
tape the next day which had recorded strange tappings, heavy
breathing and chaotic, sinister laughing.

PJ then got hold of a DFM - an
evesdropping machine, which they would use to to catch the
mysterious intruder at the Grove. PJ formulated a plan - Speedy
and Fraser would be on the inside with one walkie-talkie and
Duncan and Jemma would be outside with another. PJ would guide
them from room to room checking in advance were their quarry was
moving to. They would try to get him cornered in a room they
could lock and then call Geoff.

To check that the machine was
operating properly the lads tested it out on the nearest house
where they knew the subjects inside. The lads choked themselves
with laughter as younger sister Jemma instructed Debbie on how
she should flirt properly, and how Jemma commented on the
indecency of Debbie undressing infront of PJ's photo which was
pinned to the wall!

The Ghosts were later discovered
as the gypsies who belonged to the site Kelly and Winston
visited.

Debbie became concerned towards
the end of 1991 that Jemma's new boyfriend Lee wasn't all he
seemed. Debbie's fears were confirmed after she spotted Lee
sabotage Speedy's bike in order to fix the race to ensure he made
maxium winnings off Marcus who was running a book on the outcome
of the race. Lee, playing on Debbie's overactive imagination,
swore her to silence on threat of putting a curse on her!

PJ, who had become quite fond of
Debbie by now, detected the change in her behaviour and she
confided in him what had happened. PJ, Duncan and Speedy promptly
sorted Lee out, forced him to give his winnings to Speedy to
cover the costs of a new bike and warned him to stay away from
the Grove in future.

Debbie joined in the campaign to
prevent the Grove's closure, and during this time she developed a
strong dis-liking of Amanda, the recent new-comer to the Grove,
who's wealthy status and tactless manner irrated Debbie.

In the 1992 Series Debbie and
Amanda's relationship worsened further. Amanda, now more sure of
herself decided to strike Debbie at her weakest point - PJ. To
Debbie's fury, Amanda recieves PJ's attention during the UFO
prank on Marcus, and wins a place in the second audition for
dancer's in the film Jive Crazy, where as Debbie failed the first
round.

Debbie also have problems at home
with mother, Kath pregnant, sister Nicola running away with Paul,
and Jemma's relationship with Lee. Debbie becomes concerned that
Lee is having a bad influnce on her younger sister, but Jemma
refuses to listen to her protests. Debbie is incensed later when
she learns that Jemma was planning on being an accessory to a
Ram-Raid with Kevin Fowler and his gang. Debbie is later
confronted by Kevin and his gang who are searching the streets of
Newcastle for Jemma and Lee. Debbie managaees to get a warning to
Jemma through Barney.

During Nicola's wedding, Debbie
and PJ become closer and they share their first kiss. The
relationship quickly develops - too quickly for Debbie's liking
who is a little scared by PJ's advances. Debbie knows what PJ
wants, but is indecisive, and scared after PJ meets her in the
Grove's cellar with a chinese take-away and a sleeping bag.
Further trouble looms - Amanda is continuing her pursuance
of PJ, and to Debbie's fury continues to receive his interest.
Through her persistence, Amanda is invited to a meal out with PJ
at a French restaurant, in Debbie's place - but unfortunately the
bill is higher than anticipated, and they are both forced to wash
dishes.

On the same night, Debbie, unknowing about PJ's
date with Amanda meets him, pledges her love for him and agrees
to meet him in the basement of the Grove the next night.

After this PJ invites Amanda to spend the night with him in
the basement of the Grove, as he has done with Debbie. Once ther
Amanda realises his intentions and turns him down saying, "
I am not that kind of girl". But, unfortunately, PJ and
Amanda are spotted in there by Debbie after her sister Jemma told
her what was happening.

Following this, Amanda and Debbie realise that PJ has been
two-timing them both and as such, decide to get one back on him.
PJ admits to Duncan how sorry he is to have cheated on Debbie and
follows her to Nicola's new house where Debbie has gone to stay
for a while. PJ tries to apologise, but Debbie rejects him,
explaining that he has hurt her too much for her to ever forgive
him.

At the paint-ball contest between the Grovers and Denton Burn,
Debbie and Amanda decide to shoot PJ, so that he will be out of
the game. Unfortunately, it all goes wrong, as unknown to Debbie
and Amanda PJ has taken off his goggles and when they shoot, the
paint gets into his eyes, providing the dramatic climax to the
1992 series.

PJ returns from hospital in the 1993 series, but Debbie is
intially too rattled with guilt to see him. Amanda and Duncan
attempt to salvage the situation. However, after Debbie and
Duncan spend some time together they start to realise that there
is a certain chemistry between them. They both agree to ignore it
and remain loyal to PJ.

PJ is invited by Duncan to join the Grove's new
band: "Grove Matrix", they perform at PJ's 17th
Birthday Party, the party is a success, although Debbue decides
not to attend, until PJ embarresses himself by tipping ice-cream
down his front and Fran, unknowing of his blindness laughs at
him. He stumbles out into the car park where he crashes into a
car, crying, angry at himself, when Debbie takes him into her
arms and promises him everything wil be OK. PJ is thrilled that
Debbie has come back to him, but his happiness is short-lived,
despite her good intentions, Debbie is unable to escape from the
fact that she has fallen for Duncan.

Seeing as they are both important people in PJ's
lives, and now that PJ needs them both more than ever, they are
unable to avoid each other and so the feelings they have for each
other. They decide that the situation can go on no longer, and
arrange to meet in the Grove after hours to talk. After Debbie
has a heart-to-heart with Duncan, she realises she has no option
but to make a choice between the two of them. PJ suddenly walks
in on them, but Duncan manages to sneak out unoticed. PJ hears
the door shut quietly, but Debbie assures him it was jsut the
wind.

Debbie feels deeply sorry for PJ, and blames
herself greatly for his condition, so she decides to stay with PJ
although it is Duncan she really wants. However, PJ eases the
burden on her, by announcing he is joining a specialised unit in
Hereford for education of the blind. PJ leaves in episode 8,
leaving Debbie and Duncan to persue their relatioship.

The relationship gets off to a bad start as
Debbie blames Duncan for exposing her mother's adultry with
Geoff's replacement at the Grove, Tim. Debbie later forgives
Duncan, though he remains insecure in their realtionship. Duncan
begins making advances, indicating that he would like their
relationship to be as close as her relationship with PJ was.
Debbie is unready, and remembers the hurt PJ caused her the
previous year with Amanda, causing her to have another fall-out
with Duncan.

Debbie reveals to Alison at Leah's Murder Evening
the reality of the way she considers her relationship with
Duncan, basically Debbie admits she is only using him for a bit
of comfort when she needs it, like a "puppy dog".
Unknowing to her, Duncan overhears the conversation.

Debbie becomes concerned with her family
situation after her parents decide to seperate, she attempts to
soothe the situation between Jemma and their mother, but to no
success. Debbie also becomes concerned for Amanda after she
becomes involved with Aston and is devastated when Amanda is
taken into hospital after an overdose. She instinctively turns to
Duncan for support and comfort only he rejects her and tells her
she's utterly self-centred.

Debbie, lost and confused decides to visit PJ in
Hereford. PJ reveals he knew of Debbie's relationship with
Duncan, and gives her good advice for her future. When Debbie
returns to Newcastle she attends a job interview at the Copthorne
Hotel, and is taken on as the new receptionist.

In 1994, Debbie seems to have been taken off the
reception and put on to waitressing, she is seen in episode 5
when her sister Jemma and Gary go to her hotel for a meal. Debbie
is later seen in episode 7 attending Jemma's funeral. Debbie
later visits Amanda, after she returns to Newcastle with baby
Sam.